Tropical Storm Bret forms north of Bahamas

8 P.M. SUNDAY UPDATE: Tropical Storm Bret, the second of the 2011 hurricane season, formed with maximum winds of 40 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. Despite its proximity to Florida’s East Coast, Bret was expected to have no impact on South Florida weather.

The storm was drifting to the south and southeast at 2 mph, but a turn to the northeast on Monday was predicted.

In fact, a relatively dry week was in the forecast for Palm Beach. Rain chances diminish to just 20 percent on Tuesday and remain there through Sunday, according to the National Weather Service in Miami. Highs will be near 90.

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ORIGINAL POST: The season’s second tropical depression formed Sunday afternoon north of the Bahamas, and the National Hurricane Center predicted the system would become Tropical Storm Bret.

But it was unlikely to affect Florida. Although TD2 was moving south at 2 mph, it was expected to turn to the northeast late Monday and then east-northeast on Tuesday.

The Bahamas issued a tropical storm watch for Grand Bahama and the Abaco Islands, and forecasters said the system could dump 2 to 3 inches of rain on the Northwest Bahamas.

At 5 p.m., TD2 was at 27.5N 78.2W, 100 Miles north of Great Abaco Island and 127 miles east-northeast of Palm Beach. It had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph.

None of the computer forecasting models show the system reaching hurricane strength, the NHC said.

About the Author

John Nelander is a freelance writer, book editor and publisher in West Palm Beach. Weather Matters features news and observations about the weather with a focus on what's happening in South Florida. The blog also looks at the latest studies on climate change as well as what's happening in the weather forecasting biz. His website is www.pbeditorialservices.com.